Green Prescription Paves Way to Healthier Lifestyles

Regional Sports Trust, Sport Wellington is
paving the way to healthier lifestyles through their Green
Prescription programme.

Run by Sport Wellington, Green
Prescription (GRx) is a primary health initiative that aims
to increase physical activity and provide nutritional
support. The region wide programme is completely free and
assists up to 2800 patients a year. GRx looks to combat
medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, obesity and/or mental illness using
physical activity, sport and nutrition as a vehicle to
health and wellbeing.

The team link their patients into
services, sports and activities that build their community
and social wellbeing as well as their health. They provide
advice, support and resources, reducing barriers and
enabling patients access to everything needed in the path to
a healthier lifestyle. One aspect of this is the
participation in various community sporting events. For the
fifth consecutive year, Sport Wellington sponsored Green
Prescriptions patients to take part in the AMI Round the
Bays. Up from last years 59, this years event saw 81 members
of the Green Prescription programme
participate.

Wellington woman Annette Lynch, 73, was
referred to GRx in February 2013. In 2011, Annette was
diagnosed with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis of the joints,
back, knees and ankles making everyday movement a painful
struggle and leaving her dependant on a walking frame to get
around. Determined not to let her condition slow her down,
Annette began the Healthy Lifestyle programme run by Green
Prescription, an 8 week program designed to educate on
nutrition while encouraging and facilitating physical
activity.

12 months later, through extreme determination
and her work with the GRx team, Annette no longer relies on
her walking frame. She no longer lets her condition stop her
from enjoying life and walks with her grandchildren, and
even set a goal to walk the biggest distance she has since
she was a young woman.

Taking one painstaking step at a
time, with Healthy Lifestyle programme coordinator Toshy
Rapana by her side, Annette Lynch successfully completed the
6.5km walk at AMI Round the Bays 2014 with a time of
2.00.33. Annette admits “I didn’t think I would be able
to do it, but I got there. I feel like I have really
achieved something.” Annette has not only served as an
inspiration to others taking part in the program but the
Green Prescription team themselves. “I’m just so
inspired,” says Toshy, “she suffers pain on a daily
basis, but accepts it with such compassion and
spirit.”

When asked what she would tell others in a
similar situation, Annette’s advice was “you can
surprise yourself if you’re determined enough to do it. If
you struggle, try to find someone who can help support you
or perhaps join an exercise group or social group.”

As
they crossed they finish line, well after most had already
finished and were on their way home, Toshy and Annette
celebrated their success with a high five. Though her work
with GRx is complete, Annette hopes to maintain an active
lifestyle and has her sights set on the 2015 Round the Bays
with a goal to beat her 2014 time of 2 hours.

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